Duke is a musician, singer, and songwriter. He discovered his teaching gift at age 18 when the church he was attending had no class for his age group. He started a weekly Bible study and prayer night in his home in Seymore, TN. He attended Leadership Training Institute in 1984-85 and was a home Bible study leader and prayer meeting leader at Redemption Church International for years in Knoxville, TN. He currently lives in Manila, AR with his beautiful wife, Teresa, assisting as a Bible teacher at Oasis Church in St. Francis, AR. His email is dukeeastin@gmail.com

Which is easier to say?

Posted Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at 12:00 AM

Matt 9: 1 -- And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 -- And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 -- And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 -- And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 -- For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, arise, and walk?
6 -- But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 -- And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 -- But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Think about this for a minute...have you ever been faced with a faith challenge, the place where your faith is stretched beyond your current level? Did you back off? Did you press on in? I don't want to be in the way of God's power working miracles. I want God to use me to deliver them, don't you?
Acts 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
It's God doing the work, but he uses our hands. Are your hands available? Which is easier to say, "your sins are forgiven", or "pain be gone in Jesus name"?
You see friends, most church folks have heard the good news that Jesus' blood has cancelled their sin debt, so faith is high in that area, therefore saying "your sins are forgiven" is easy. If you want to go to the next level of faith and believe for healings and miracles you'll have to be willing to be persecuted by your religious friends, but you can be used by God if you're willing to say what God says.
Matthew 21:21 -- Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this (which is done) to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Jesus said something to a tree, God's power did something. Do you see the pattern here?
John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Jesus spoke from his heart, but Jesus explains that He was following the instructions of his father...so when a person came to Jesus for help, Jesus was listening for the instructions of His Father, then, Jesus spoke what He heard, or did what He saw, and The Father did the work. Can you see it? Our job as believers, is to feed on God's Word to become familiar with God's voice. Then follow His step by step instructions for the rest. He that hath ears to hear let him hear.